Device for the formation of croissants made of puff pastry or the like

Abstract

A device for the formation of croissants made of puff pastry or the like, said croissants being initially shaped into pastry rolls ( 12 ) starting from flat puff pastry, wherein there are at least two gripping or clasping and folding elements ( 13, 14, 15 ), connected by an articulated joint ( 16, 17 ) and suitable for being transferred, aligned with each other, onto portions of a puff pastry roll ( 12 ), withholding the roll ( 12 ) and being moved to a folded position thus causing the firmly held pastry roll to take on the form of a U- or crescent shape, there also being driving systems ( 25, 26 ) for the reciprocal movement between the at least two gripping or clasping and folding elements ( 13, 14, 15 ). The invention also relates to a process for the formation of croissants made of puff pastry or the like, wherein each croissant, in the form of a cylindrical pastry roll, is gripped by at least two jointed gripping and folding elements ( 13, 14, 15 ), maintained in a firm position and folded to form a U- or crescent shape by moving the two gripping or clasping and folding elements, before being released in a folded position.

1. A device for the formation of croissants made of puff pastry or the like, said croissants being initially shaped into pastry rolls ( 12 ) starting from flat puff pastry, characterized in that there are at least two gripping or clasping and folding elements ( 13 ,  15 ), connected by an articulated joint ( 16 ,  17 ) and suitable for being transferred, aligned with each other, onto upper lateral portions of a puff pastry roll ( 12 ), lifting the roll ( 12 ) and being moved to a folded position thus causing the firmly held pasty roll to take on the form of a U- or crescent shape, there also being driving systems ( 25 ,  26 ) for the reciprocal movement between the at least two gripping or clasping and folding elements ( 13 ,  15 ) wherein said at least two gripping or clasping and folding elements ( 13 ,  15 ) have hollow suction portions ( 18 ,  19 ) connected to vacuum suction units ( 22 ) and said suction portions are box-shaped and comprise a lower curved wall ( 18 ) having at least two suction holes ( 19 ) which suction said roll into contact with said lower curved wall. 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that between said two gripping or clasping and folding elements ( 13 ,  15 ) there is a gripping element ( 14 ) to which said two gripping or clasping and folding elements ( 13 ,  15 ) are connected with said articulated joint ( 16 ,  17 ). 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said gripping element ( 14 ) also has hollow suction portions ( 18 ,  19 ). 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said lifting of the roll is in a vertical direction perpendicular to the surface supporting said roll.